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Kishori Raj

Mr. Plinske

English II Honors

18 April 2017

Organ transplants

On December 23, 1954 a doctor by the name of Joseph Murray performed the first ever

organ transplant. He transferred a kidney from one human patient into the body of another

person. Organ transplants have been occurring for more than 60 years, but have increased

drastically in the last five years. In 2016 alone, there have been 33,606 transplants, which is a

19.8% increase since 2012 (Scutti). Currently, there are 119,052 people are waiting for an organ

to save their life in the United States of America (Scutti). Organ transplants benefit a large

number of people by helping families to grieve if the donor is dead, by saving millions of lives,

and highly contributing to medical research.

Firstly, Organ donations can help a family in grieving. If a patient dies, and he/she has

already decided to donate their organs the family feels that they are helping contribute to

someone elses life span. Many donor families have said that, the act of donation helps them in

their grieving process. It does not take away the pain of the loss; however it does help them to

know someone else is alive because of their loved ones donation. (TDS). From responses in a

20 question survey, 75% said agreeing to donation was because they wanted something positive

to come out of their familys loss. (Stouder). Donation gives grieving families a chance to honor

the generosity of their loved one, by respecting their wish to create good for others out of an

otherwise tragic situation.(Nova Scotia). Not only does donation help the life of the recipient,

but it helps the family of the donor.

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It is a known fact that organ transplants save thousands of lives each year. Without

donors, a grand number of people would not be existing today. In fact, Today, some 25,000

Americans a year receive a new heart, kidney, liver, lung, pancreas or intestine - and a new lease

on life (Boutin). Donors can improve the quality of the recipients life, such as an eye or tissue

donation causing someone to be able to see again. Or, bone marrow transplants help children

with leukemia or other diseases that could most likely end their life. A very important type of

transplant is also a heart transplant, such as for a patient that has a disease like cardiomyopathy

or coronary heart disease. One donor, after death, can save up to 8 lives. The very same donor

can save almost up 50 lives if donating tissues, or eyes. However, there are illegal organ

transplantations which can be very dangerous. Illegal organ transplants consists of buying and

selling a humans organ. For example, in China there is a huge shortage of organs which leads to

organs being sold on the black market for high prices. Or, in India where there are about 2,000

people illegally selling their kidneys for money. There are also people unknowingly giving up

their internal organs for someone else and dying without the slightest of knowledge. Illegal organ

trafficking is very dangerous and can cost thousands of lives, but legal organ donation can save

thousands of lives every day.

Finally, not only do organ donations help save lives and in grieving, but it also does

contribute to medical research. Not all organs are usable for transplantations, so they can be used

for medical research. Such as, Groundbreaking treatment options, such as islet cell

transplantation rely on organs donated to research(UW). Technically, in a way, the donor is still

helping save a life by letting doctors experiment on the organ to help other people in the future.

For example, donating a stomach can help to study gastro-esophageal reflux diseases (GERD) to

look at the side effects of a new drug that is being used for gastric disorders. Also, a whole body
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donation can help to advance the knowledge of physicians which can help other patients as well.

Organ donation can often be used for doctors in training to help further their mastery of

medicine. Without the donation of organs to improve the world of medicine in saving lives, many

people would have died due to deadly illnesses or diseases. Thanks to the donors and physicians,

citizens are alive and well today.

Organ transplants/Organ donations have benefited society in more ways than one. Such

as, saving millions of lives, helping the familys grieving process after the death of a donor, and

contributing to the worlds medical research. A life is very valuable and organ donations help

provide continuous sources of life every day. Also, grieving families are able to cherish the

generosity of their loved one who is providing their organs to save another life. With that,

medical research has been furthered so much due to all the people helping to advance lives and

research. Organ transplantations have benefited so many people and will continue to in the

future.
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Works Cited

"Body and Organ Donation Information." Science Care. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2017

University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. "Donate Organs for

Research: The Future Depends on It." UW Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr.

2017.

". LiveOnNY." New York Organ Donor Network. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2017.

"Give a Legacy of Life." Organ and Tissue Donation | Nova Scotia | Legacy of Life.

N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2017.

Guertin, Amy. "Benefits of Organ Donating." LoveToKnow. LoveToKnow Corp, n.d.

Web. 14 Apr. 2017.

Stouder, D. B., A. Schmid, S. S. Ross, L. G. Ross, and L. Stocks. "Family, Friends,

and Faith: How Organ Donor Families Heal." Progress in Transplantation

(Aliso Viejo, Calif.). U.S. National Library of Medicine, Dec. 2009. Web. 14

Apr. 2017.

Scutti, Susan. "US Organ Transplants Increased Nearly 20% in Five Years." CNN.

Cable News Network, 09 Jan. 2017. Web. 14 Apr. 2017.

"Systems of the Human Body in Research and Education." Organ Use in Research to

Find Cures and Treatments for Various Diseases, and Develop Novel Drugs

and Medical Devices. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2017.

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MailOnline, Simon Tomlinson for. "Inside the Illegal Hospitals Performing

Thousands of Black Market Organ Transplants Every Year for $200,000 a

Time ." Daily Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 09 Apr. 2015. Web. 15

Apr. 2017.